Weeds or Flowers, Flowers or Weeds?

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by mekons, Jun 7, 2010.

  1. mekons

    mekons Member

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    I'm wondering if anyone has come across a good resource, either online or in book form, for helping distinguish between desirable flowers and unwanted weeds.

    I just inherited quite an extensive garden from the former owners of our house, and being relatively new to the Northwest, I don't always know what is growing in my garden.

    I'd post pics here to ask for help, but I have quite a variety of plants.

    Thanks very much.
    C
     
  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,250
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Hire a garden coach or consultant.
     
  3. Okra

    Okra Member

    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    A friend of mine was just in Lynden, Washington last week for her kid's pipe band concert. She said there was a wonderful botanical garden there which had, among other plots, an area dedicated to displaying and identifying weeds. What a brilliant idea! It also sounds like it would help you. Maybe it's time for a day trip to Lynden.

    Good luck.
     
  4. mekons

    mekons Member

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    That's a brilliant idea. I could open one here in my backyard. I just need a "gardening coach" to come over and label everything other than the dandelions I know well.
     
  5. Barbara Lloyd

    Barbara Lloyd Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,024
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Anacortes, Washington, USA
    "American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants". It's pricey but very good.
    "Sunset Western Garden" is a bit less pricey, but not quite as descriptive
    If I were you, I'd just go ahead and post pictures 3 or 4 at a time and we'll do our best. ;)) barb
     
  6. colins1979

    colins1979 Member

    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    UK
    I have visited various websites decribing what a weed actualy is. and i have come up with this answer..

    "A plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden."

    So i guess this mean anything that you didnt plant in your garden and is unwanted can be called a weed ???

    Csmith
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 21, 2010
  7. Debby

    Debby Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    285
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    No one source has it all. I hope you have a library card; if not, do get one--you'll feel wealthy every time you leave with an armload of colourful gardening books. Here are some the Vancouver Public Library has:
    Insect, disease & weed I.D. guide: find-it-fast organic solutions for your garden /
    by Carr, Anna, 1955-, Cebenko, Jill Jesiolowski., Martin, Deborah L., Gilkeson, Linda A., Smith, Miranda, 1944-
    Emmaus, PA: Rodale, Inc., c2001.
    632.96 C31i

    Living things we love to hate: facts, fantasies & fallacies /
    by Kennedy, Des, 1945-, Suzuki, David T., 1936-
    Vancouver: Whitecap Books, c1992.
    591.6 K35L

    A weed by any other name: the virtues of a messy lawn, or learning to love the plants we don’t plant /
    by Gift, Nancy, 1971-
    Boston: Beacon Press, c2009.
    632.5 G45w

    Weeds in my garden: observations on some misunderstood plants /
    by Heiser, Charles B.
    Portland: Timber Press, 2003
    632.5 H47w

    Weeds, friend or foe?: [an illustrated guide to identifying, taming, and using weeds] /
    by Roth, Sally.
    Pleasantville, N.Y.: Reader’s Digest, c2002.
    632.5 R84w

    West coast gardening: natural insect, weed and disease control /
    by Gilkeson, Linda A.
    Victoria, B.C.: Trafford, 2006.
    632 G47w
     
  8. mekons

    mekons Member

    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Thanks for all the tips.
    Debby- that's a great set of resources. Thanks very much
    C
     

Share This Page